Witnesses describe chaos as fire kills about 40 at Crans‑Montana bar

A fire tore through the Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans‑Montana in the early hours of New Year’s Day, leaving about 40 people dead and 115 injured, police said. Authorities have not confirmed an exact toll; the Italian foreign ministry said Swiss officials had reported at least 40 deaths.

Samuel Rapp, who was at a nearby restaurant when he heard what he described as an "explosion," told Sky News he saw people "walking on everybody" as they tried to escape a packed venue. He said many were screaming, some were on the floor, and he saw victims with burned hair and others without clothes.

Witnesses said people smashed windows to flee the flames and panicked parents rushed to the scene to find whether relatives were inside. Sky News' Home Editor said those he spoke to were traumatised. Local worker Leon Christe said he arrived early and administered first aid to many young people whose clothes had burned off, calling the scene "very chaotic and very sad." Sixteen‑year‑old survivor Axel Clavier of Paris described "total chaos." He said one friend had died and two or three were missing.

He did not see the fire start but said waitresses had been carrying champagne bottles with sparklers. He hid behind a table, then broke a plexiglass window to escape, losing his jacket, shoes, phone and bank card. The blaze began at about 1.30am local time as people celebrated the start of 2026.

Key Topics

World, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Fire, Crans‑montana, Bar, Mass Casualties